You just need to do a regular update/upgrade to get the latest stable version. Usually, it takes a couple of days before a new version, just released by Mozilla, reaches the official Ubuntu repository.

If you want to install Firefox beta, aurora or nightly versions, then you can use a ppa repository.

Below you can find the recommended ppa repositories from MozillaTeam, which is responsible for maintaining Firefox and other Mozilla products on Ubuntu. Don't use multiple PPA repositories. Pick the best for your needs.

Alternatively, you can download it from Mozilla, extract the archive to the /opt folder or somewhere in your /home directory. Keep in mind the version available from Firefox main site is for 32bit only. For more info and instructions on how to use this method see the installation tutorial on my web site.

Add-ons

Quote:

UPDATE: Starting with Firefox 10, add-ons are considered compatible by default, so you don't need any config change to make them work with beta, aurora or nightly versions. If you want to disable this behavior, enter about:config, search for extensions.strictCompatibility and double click it to set it to true.

Mozilla has recently implemented a new system to bump compatibility of add-ons, when a new major version reaches the beta testing phase. However, you need to perform an update check from the Add-ons Manager to get the compatibility patches. Keep in mind that only add-ons that do not have any incompatible code will be patched automatically.

It is possible to bypass the extension compatibility check, in order to use incompatible add-ons. However, if you need such procedure to use add-ons with the latest stable or latest beta build of Firefox, then it means the add-on has incompatible code and probably won't work as expected or could even cause other problems. If you want to use it anyway, you can disable compatibility check with Add-on Compatibility Reporter.

Before turning off the compatibility check, verify if the add-on has new versions under review. After a developer updates an add-on, it needs to be reviewed by Mozilla editors before going public. This process takes about a week, but you can use new versions under review, if you trust the developer. You can do that by adding /versions/ to the add-on url on Mozilla site or clicking the View all versions link at the bottom of the add-on page.

If you want to learn why add-ons sometimes break and why the new development model is actually beneficial for add-on compatibility, see this interesting article (Thanks to SilverWave for finding it).

I have compiled a list of add-ons that might be useful for Firefox 4+ users. These add-ons modify Firefox gui or functionality in order enhance new features or regain old ones.

Known Issues

If you are experiencing difficulties starting Firefox or if it starts but is completely unusable, check if you have Bindwood extension installed and remove it.

Code:

sudo apt-get remove xul-ext-bindwood

This was an extension used to sync Firefox bookmarks using Ubuntu One cloud service, but it doesn't work anymore, since they removed such functionality from the service.

There seems to be issues with firefox-globalmenu, which can prevent Firefox from starting when using Unity or prevent tabs from being closed.

If you are experiencing such issues, start Firefox in safe mode and disable the "Global Menu Bar Integration" extension:

Code:

firefox -safe-mode

If that doesn't solve the problem, uninstall firefox-globalmenu:

Code:

sudo apt-get remove firefox-globalmenu

Restart Firefox.

This is not a definitive solution, but at least will allow to use Firefox with Unity until this problem with the global menu gets fixed.

If you are using Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid, then you need to install the ubufox package. The package ubufox is a dummy transitional package to the new xul-ext-ubufox. In theory, you don't actually need ubufox. However, on Lucid, xul-ext-ubufox is still version 0.9.0, while ubufox is 0.9.1. So xul-ext-ubufox doesn't work with Firefox 5, while ubufox does.https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/fir...nglinux/firef/

March 22nd, 2011

scouser73

Re: Firefox 4 is out!

Already installed it, thanks.

March 22nd, 2011

ElSlunko

Re: Firefox 4 is out!

How will this ppa differ from the one mentioned above?

ppa:mozillateam/firefox-stable

Oops just noticed you mentioned it.

March 22nd, 2011

RiceMonster

Re: Firefox 4 is out!

I've already been running the RC on Windows 7. I'm really impressed with this release, because I think they're heading in the exact direction they needed to go in.

March 22nd, 2011

jerenept

Re: Firefox 4 is out!

Quote:

Originally Posted by RiceMonster

I've already been running the RC on Windows 7. I'm really impressed with this release, because I think they're heading in the exact direction they needed to go in.

I've been running it for months now...... on Ubuntu and Windows 7.
It really is 9000x better than 3.6

March 22nd, 2011

Yudley

Re: Firefox 4 is out!

I want the ubuntu-modified firefox 4 (just the way 3.6.x updated through update manager is always the ubuntu-modified version not the original firefox)

and I want it to upgrade itself over my current firefox 3.6.15 ... i don't want side-by-side installation ... i already have enough browsers on my system (firefox, chrome, opera)

and I want it to do that through "proper channel" i.e., either alert me or offer the upgrade on "sudo apt-get update"

and I'm on lucid LTS

is it possible?

is it too much to ask?

March 22nd, 2011

ElSlunko

Re: Firefox 4 is out!

The firefox stable channel just got 4.0 for Maverick and about an hour ago for Lucid.

March 22nd, 2011

jerenept

Re: Firefox 4 is out!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yudley

I want the ubuntu-modified firefox 4 (just the way 3.6.x updated through update manager is always the ubuntu-modified version not the original firefox)

and I want it to upgrade itself over my current firefox 3.6.15 ... i don't want side-by-side installation ... i already have enough browsers on my system (firefox, chrome, opera)

is it possible?

Firefox 4 integrates better with your themes now. :P

the FF stable PPA should get you the second request.

March 22nd, 2011

Lucradia

Re: Firefox 4 is out!

Just a difference comparison between Windows and Linux Firefox that I really REALLY don't like:

In windows, I can press the key-combination CTRL+L, and it will automatically select all of the address bar without having me to have the address bar open or visible. I've been using Firefox 4.0 in Linux via daily builds a while; but if I have the address bar not visible in linux, I get an open URL dialog box, rather than doing what windows does.

How do I run two versions of FF without mucking up my system? For instance, my understanding is that if I enable both the Mozilla stable and "daily build" PPAs, the package manager will always overwrite FF with the latest version?